Clean Up Your Desk Already

30 Apr 2019

If your desk (or desktop) is a mess, you might be too. Research shows clutter adds to our stress and anxiety levels, detracts from our ability to focus, and makes us seem less conscientious and agreeable. That’s why you should make a habit of tidying your workspace. Try blocking off a few minutes on your calendar every week to sort through your piles of stuff. Managers may want to establish “spring cleaning” days (pro tip: order a pizza for motivation) or institute a clean desk policy for shared spaces. When it comes to managing digital clutter, ask IT for tools to organize online documents and advice on which items can be discarded. And if you work at home, set up a designated workspace so that you have a boundary between work items and home items. (It’s worth noting that research has also found messy environments can encourage creativity — you just don’t want your desk to get too chaotic.)